Andrews for U.S. Senate

It's a safe bet the candidate who wins the Democratic nomination for U.S. senator in the June 3 primary will win the general election next fall. It's been 36 years since a Republican won a U.S. Senate race in this state, and in some of those years, the GOP had solid candidates who ran competitive races. That's not the case this year.
That means the Democratic primary will determine who joins Robert Menendez, a Democrat, in the Senate. We believe Rep. Rob Andrews has made the case for replacing incumbent Frank Lautenberg, who is seeking a fifth term.
During his 24 years in the Senate, Lautenberg has been a consistent fighter for New Jersey, ensuring the state got federal funds for mass transit and road projects, beach replenishment and the port. He strove to expand eligibility for a federal children's insurance program.

Lautenberg is 84. He's had four terms in the Senate and will be 90 by the time the next term ends. While age alone is not a sufficient reason to back Andrews, who is 50, neither is longevity in Washington a sufficient reason to retain Lautenberg.
Eliminating the age factor, Andrews still is the better choice. He has a comprehensive vision of where the country should be going and can articulate detailed plans for getting there. On any issue -- from health care, to withdrawing from Iraq, to meeting transportation needs, to dealing with soaring gas prices -- Andrews has well-thought-out proposals.
In an appearance before The Star-Ledger editorial board, Andrews, who has represented South Jersey's 1st Congressional District for 18 years, outlined his proposals for health care. They include specifics on fully funding programs for children, requiring large employers to provide employees coverage or pay into a fund for coverage and subsidizing small businesses that insure workers. He would work to make insurance more affordable by expanding competition, allowing policy holders to shop around -- even in other states -- for the best prices, an idea offered by other candidates. He would require Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for the lowest prices possible.
He would reverse the Bush tax cuts for the rich, which he says would produce $1.5 trillion over 10 years, and use that money to reduce the deficit and help underwrite the health insurance program.
Lautenberg, in an interview with the editorial board, was much less convincing. It wasn't his positions on the issues that were of concern but the lack of detail or depth in his discussion of those issues. He said government has a role in guaranteeing opportunities for health coverage for all but confined himself to buzz words without much explanation. He failed to get beyond bromides about how health care should be affordable and how there ought to be some sort of means test to determine eligibility.
Realistically, there is not much difference in the politics of the two men despite Lautenberg's efforts to paint Andrews as a Bush enabler. Both have championed liberal Democratic causes -- abortion rights, embryonic stem cell research, gun control and the environment, to name a few.
It is on Iraq that Lautenberg contends he and Andrews are far apart. The facts don't support the claim. On Oct. 10, 2002, Andrews voted in favor of authorizing Bush to use military force against Iraq unless it disarmed. Two days later, Lautenberg, who wasn't in the Senate at the time, said, "In terms of the action, I fully support it." Then in January 2003, when Lautenberg had returned to the Senate, he said, "I am with the president more than halfway."
Neither man knew then that the so-called weapons of mass destruction would never be found. Both now support withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.
Both get high ratings from groups usually associated with Democratic causes. Andrews, however, has tempered his adherence to the party with a recognition of the important role that compromise can play in achieving results. A step back from the polarization that grips Washington would be welcome.
The third Democratic candidate, Morristown Mayor Donald Cresitello, 61, has made some news beyond Morris County on immigration issues, but is in over his head in this race.
For Republicans, the choices on the primary ballot are fairly dismal. The New Jersey GOP is so bankrupt that party bosses fumbled through several choices before settling on Dick Zimmer, a lawyer-lobbyist in Washington and a former state legislator and U.S. representative. He's sufficiently conservative on fiscal matters and enough of a moderate on others to be at least acceptable to most GOP voters.
His opponents -- state Sen. Joseph Pennacchio, a dentist, and Murray Sabrin, a professor of finance, who lost a Libertarian bid for governor in 1997 and the GOP primary for the U.S. Senate nomination in 2000 -- have little to offer on the national stage.
Of the three, Zimmer is the most credible candidate and the Republicans' best bet, although he wouldn't be our choice over either Andrews or Lautenberg.